Boot-cleaner.



G- W. PRIGGE.

BOOT CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.|9|1SH2.

$5! l a E E5557:

Patented May 23,1916.

GEORGE W. PRIGGE, OF SUTTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

BOOT-CLEANER.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed August 19, 1912. Serial No. 715,742.

To all whom it may concern; Be it known that 1, GEORGE W. Parson,

.a citizen of the United States, residing at Boot-Cleaners, of which the following, to-

gether with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to devices adapted to be placed before an outside door, or other suitable place, for the purpose of rapidly and conveniently cleaning boots and shoes, and has for its object to provide a cleaner of simple and durable construction and one which can be readily adjusted so that mud and dirt may be removed from footwear of varying widths.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view of my improved boot cleaner. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. fl: is an end view of one corner of my improved boot cleaner.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different views.

In the drawings a rectangular frame 1 is provided near its center with a transverse crosspiece 2. Connecting the ends 3 and 1 of the frame 1 with the crosspiece 2 and parallel with and projecting somewhat above the sides 5 and 6 of the frame is a plurality of scraping irons 7 adapted to remove mud, etc., from the soles of the boots. The frame 1, crosspiece 2 and scraping irons 7 are preferably metallic and integral with each other. The portions of the scraping irons? which project above the frame 1 are slotted at 8 above the crosspiece 2 to allow the body of a center brush 9, provided with bristles 10 on eachof its sides, to rest upon the frame and be held from lateral movement. The center brush 9 is removably fastened to the frame 1 in any suitable manner. In the present in stance, I attach it securely by means of a pair of screws 11 passing into the body of the center brush through loose plates 12 in contact with thelower edges of two of the central scraping irons 7.

Above each of the ends 3 and 4c of the frame is an end brush 13, provided on its inner side with bristles 14: and supported on a T-shapedholder 15 to which it is removably attached in any suitable manner. In the drawings I have shown each of the end brushes attached by means of screws 16 passing through vertical holes in the back 17 of the end brush and entering openings in the heads 18 of the corresponding holders 15. The holders are designed to be moved inwardly and outwardly, thus carrying the end brushes 13 toward or away from the center brush 9. Each of the holdors 15 is provided with an inwardly eXtending shank 19 resting within slots 20 in the ends. The shanks 19 thus constitute guides for the holders 15 to maintain them in position, especially after the end brushes 13 have been renewed for the purpose of substituting new ones.

To further aid in guiding and supporting the holders 15, their inner ends 21 are turned downwardly at substantially a right angle and are provided with openings through which the rods 22 pass. The rods 22 also enter the tapped openings 23 in the ends 3 and at of the frame, the openings 24 in the crosspiece 2 and the openings 25 in the holders 15, the corresponding openings being in horizontal alinement with each other. The outer endsof the rods 22 are screw threaded to engage the tapped openings 23 and are each provided with a thumb nut 26 which is made longer than the distance between the tapped openings 23 and the lower edges of the frame 1, so that when the frame rests upon the floor the thumb nuts 26 are prevented from turning more than a slight distance. In this way the floor is utilized as a stop against accidental turning of the thumb nuts 26. Securely attached by a pin 27 upon each of the rods 22 and between the ends 3 and at of the frame 1 and the holder 15 is a nut 28. The boot cleaner is provided with hinges 2 9 which are screwed to the floor.

By the construction described, the end brushes 18 can be easily adjusted relatively to the center brush 9 by turning the thumb nuts 26, thus rotating the rods 22 and moving the side brushes either toward or away from the center brush. The end brushes can be adjusted either parallel with the center brush or at an angle therewith, as shown by the dotted lines 30 in Fig. 1.

In operation my improved boot cleaner is placed upon the floor and fastened thereto by the hinges which allow the cleaner to be raised for the purpose of sweeping the floor beneath it and turning the thumb nuts to adjust the brushes without removing the cleaner from the floor. The side brushes are adjusted to the required width and one side may be used for mens boots and the other for the narrower boots of Women and children.

I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown and described, for, while I prefer this construction, it is obvious that certain changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim,

1. A boot cleaner comprising a frame, a movable holder and a wiping device supported on said frame, a wiping device mounted on said holder and means for maintaining said wiping devices at varying distances from each other, said means including a guiding shank on said holder downturned at its inner end, said downturned end and said frame having openings, and a rod entering said openings and conneoting said holder and said frame.

2. A boot cleaner comprising a frame, a

movable holder and a wiping device supported on said frame, a wiping device mounted on said holder, a screw threaded opening in one end of said frame, an open ing in said holder, a screw threaded rod 7 tain said adjustable wiping device in ad-' justed position.

Dated this 16th day of August, 1912.

GEORGE W. PRIGGE.

Witnesses:

T. L. N LSON, PENELOPE CoMBERBAoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0." i 

